Speaking to The Hindu, L. Nadhan, District Forest Officer, said that the project was aimed at augmenting the infrastructure and income generation activities along the coastal villages of the district thereby reduce the dependency of fishermen on the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere for their livelihood.

The move, according to him, would help the authorities concerned to preserve the opulent marine resources in the Mannar region and prevent endangered species from extinction.

As part of the project, the department would raise shelterbelt plantations comprising casuarinas, amla and neem on 100 hectares of coastal patta land situated within 10 km from the High Tide Line (HTL) and establish three horticulture gardens at Udangudi, Vilathikulam and Tharuvaikulam areas.

It was also planned to dibble 60,000 palymrah nuts along the coastal areas.

“The entire revenue from these cultivations will be pooled into the resources of eco development committees (EDC) functioning in the village panchayats covered under the scheme,” Mr. Nadhan said.

The revenue thus obtained could be used by the EDCs for community development programmes and forcreation of employment for the villagers. Under the scheme, two ‘anti-poaching’ sheds would be set up at Tiruchendur and Vembar to curtail poaching as well as to educate the masses of the importance of avian fauna and preservation of endangered species like shark, corals and sea cucumbers.

“Awareness will be created that hunting, possession and killing of Scheduled I animals like dugong and corals are illegal under the Wild Life Protection Act 1972,” he said.

Besides, a total of 12 veterinary camps have been planned in villages where cattle population was high to help farmers engaged in rearing.